Do you warm up your V8 before driving?

[VUI Guy]

I remember reading somewhere that's its important to let the Toyota V8's warm up before driving off.

Perhaps it's related to the cracking of the manifold issue?

 

[Thai]

No for me. Turn on...drive off.

 

[Ausumm]

I'll wait for a few minutes on REALLY cold days...
unlike my wife who starts her car a half hour before driving off.

 

[JVC8790]

When it's cold (sub 25 ish?), I typically let it warm up for 1-2 minutes, if it's warmer than 50, key on and we're gone.

 

[VUI Guy]

I just let it come up to the first hash mark on the temp gauge and off we go. I can wait 3 minutes to be on the safe side.

 

[MSRP.]

On time oil changes are more important than warming up. As is strong battery.
Synthetic is probably better for cold weather cranking.
Go gentle first few minutes, warm up other fluids rather than just the engine oil.

 

[jordanrb81]

I USED to wait 5 minutes for below 32 and 10 minutes for anything that started with a minus... however now I feel totally spoiled because I have a garage and even when it was -10 with a wind chill down to -30 in January and Feb. it was still like 39 in my garage, so no more warming up for me. also I don't open the garage door until I get in the car, which is nice.

 

[ElZilcho]

I judge by the amount of valve train rattle on startup. No rattle, no warm up; oil is flowing. Some rattle, some warm up; oil is slow. As long as oil pressures are up to snuff, I drive it immediately although conservatively.

More important to drive cautiously at start up. Coolant temps might rise in a minute or so of driving but oil/trans temps take WAY longer and won't rise much unless the power-train is under load.

 

[VUI Guy]

I judge by the amount of valve train rattle on startup. No rattle, no warm up; oil is flowing. Some rattle, some warm up; oil is slow. As long as oil pressures are up to snuff, I drive it immediately although conservatively.

More important to drive cautiously at start up. Coolant temps might rise in a minute or so of driving but oil/trans temps take WAY longer and won't rise much unless the power-train is under load.

That makes sense sort of. But in my 2013 Camaro when the engine warms up so does the tranny fluid and oil temp. But I don't have that information in my 4Runner.

I'll just err on the side of caution and let her warm up. Costs me like 15 cents in fuel. I'll call it foreplay which all the ladies want.

 

[fullerj1]

I typically wait a minute or so then take off. Your engine should build up oil pressure and the valve train gets oil fairly quickly, if not you have bigger problems to worry about IMO. Strongly recommend staying on top of your preventative maintenance like the others are sayin.. my 4.7 has 205k on the clock and has had a lot of cold start ups in the Colorado winters. I may have left her running just long enough to scrap of the windshield

 

[VUI Guy]

I typically wait a minute or so then take off. Your engine should build up oil pressure and the valve train gets oil fairly quickly, if not you have bigger problems to worry about IMO. Strongly recommend staying on top of your preventative maintenance like the others are sayin.. my 4.7 has 205k on the clock and has had a lot of cold start ups in the Colorado winters. I may have left her running just long enough to scrap of the windshield

She is well maintained. I run full synthetic oil, and I work from home so it only has 105k miles. I did have the timing belt, water pump, and battery replaced at 100k miles. I think it will out live me frankly.

 

[kingofthehill]

Only if cold. Typically below 40F I let it warm up. I usually wait until my scangauge says my coolant temp is above 90F. It usually takes 2 to 5 minutes. When it is warm (at least 60F) my coolant hits 90F in about 30 seconds or less.

 

[Zeke588]

@MSRP is right. Good batteries and good oil are just as important. On days where its below 0 I usually let it warm up for atleast 10 mins. That's more for my comfort than making sure the engine is warm, and on days where its below -10 at least 15 mins. I usually run outside start it up and finish my coffee inside where its warm. Even on those days when I let her warm up a while I can still feel the power steering feel real tight, and hear a whine come from the tranny until its warmed up after a block or so.

 

[adictionbass]

When it's cold (sub 25 ish?), I typically let it warm up for 1-2 minutes, if it's warmer than 50, key on and we're gone.

Ditto

 

[Timberland]

When it's well below freezing, I'll remote start it and let it run for 5 mins then drive gently until it warms all the way up. I try to take it easy on any vehicle that isn't up to operating temp regardless of season. In the summer, it's fire n go.

Toyota's 4.7 is one of the strongest engines out there. I used to be concerned with stuff like this when I had my Jeep 4.7 but not anymore with the 4runner